Refrigerant control



Nov. 10, 1936. GOLDBERG 2,060,300

REFRIGERANT CONTROL Filed Nov. 11, 1935 Ewe 7560 ffwvcy olde/ 'y Patented Nov. 10, 1936 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanical refrigeration systems, and more particularly to means for controlling the supply of liquifled refrigerant from the high pressure portion of the circuit to the low pressure portion of the circuit where it is evaporated.

An object of my invention is to: provide a refrigerant control that is simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a float chamber for control of the refrigerant which is sealed and is a unit in itself, and yet is so constructed that the needle and valve seat can be removed by simple means when desired, from the outer sides of the chamber.

Another object is to provide an automatic expansion valve which can be manually operated and adjusted so as to regulate the flow of the liquified refrigerant or allow a continuous flow.

Another object is to provide a means of purging into the atmosphere of such non-condensible gases that may collect in the valve chamber when the rare occasion of a vapor-bound condition exists, without allowing an undue escape of refrigerant.

Another object is to provide a liquifled refrigerant supply control so designed that expansion of the refrigerant takes place outside of the entire assembly, thereby eliminating any distortion of the main float chamber assembly that may result due to temperature differences, and which may cause leakage or render the entire apparatus inoperative.

Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specifications and accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a diagram of a typical refrigeration system, embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the float chamber and valve seat fitting.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the removable valve needle.

Referring to the drawing the typical refrigeration system shown in Figure 1 consists of a float controlled chamber I0, which receives liquifled and compressed refrigerant from the compressor after it has passed through the condenser l2. Then by means of the refrigerant control liquid is discharged and passes to the pressure reducing valve l3 and into the cooling unit M, where the liquid is expanded and evaporated. It then passes out to the accumulator I 5 and back to the compressor II to complete the circuit.

The float chamber In is made of any suitable 5 metal and is preferably of welded construction so as to eliminate the use of flanges or bolts and thereby reduce leakage possibilities to a minimum; The compressed refrigerant is introduced into the chamber at the inlet I6, and passes out through the valve seat fitting I l, by means of the float controlled needle valve I8.

The float I9 is mounted on the long arm of the lever 20 which is pivoted at 2| to a lug 22. Extending perpendicularly from the arm 20 is the actuating pin 23 which sets loosely into the opening 24 of the needle valve l8, thus providing an operating mechanism between the float and the valve.

The valve seat fitting I1 is composed of one 20 piece and may be unscrewed from the chamber H] to allow the manual removal of the valve needle |8 from the assembly without otherwise disturbing the float mechanism, whenever it becomes necessary to either inspect, replace or clean the Valve.

Extending downwardly through a fitting 21 in the top of the chamber In is the rod 25, which serves the combined purpose of furnishing a purging means for the chamber and a means of regulating the float mechanism. The upper portion of the rod is provided with threads which are partly cut away as at 26. When the seal cap 28 is removed the rod may be screwed upwardly until the cut away portion 26 provides a small communication passage from the chamber to the atmosphere as at 29. This affords a means of purging the chamber and releasing any non-condensible gas that may become locked in the float chamber due to air leakage or otherwise, and which at times causes a vapor-bound condition and renders the float mechanism inoperative. Also by providing this small opening which is sufiicient to release undesirable air or gas, the loss of refrigerant and its generally noxious odor is held to a minimum.

The rod 25 is further used to regulate the size of the orifice 30. The lever 20 is preferably of such construction that it has a flat surface 2| and extends beyond the pivot 2| to present a seat on its short arm against which the rod 25 may act. The rod 25 may be screwed downwardly thereby elevating the float I9 and arm 2| and causing it to draw inwardly the needle valve I8. In this way the action of the float and size of the orifice 30 may be regulated and set in accordance with the needs of the system, or the purpose for which it is utilized, or the mechanism may be rendered entirely inoperative by completely depressing the rod 25, for by passing the float mechanism when such a condition is desired. In this case the refrigerant passes directly out of the chamber [0 through the orifice 30.

Although I have set forth in the accompanying drawing and in the foregoing description the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be restricted thereto, as it is obvious that anyone skilled in the art may make modifications of the same without departing from the principles of the invention as shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A refrigerant control unit comprising a float chamber, a refrigerant inlet in said chamber, a discharge valve extending from said chamber, a float in said chamber, operating connections between said float and said valve, a rod extending into said chamber and limiting the action of said float and valve, and means carried by said rod for forming a vent from said chamber without rendering the float and valve inoperative.

2. A refrigerant control unit comprising a float chamber, a refrigerant inlet in said chamber, a discharge valve extending from said chamber, a float in said chamber, operating connections between said fioat and said valve, a rod having a screw top and extending into said chamber to limit the action of said float and valve, and having a vertical cut-away portion on the threads of said rod whereby said cut-away thread portion may be manually caused to extend from the interior of the chamber to the exterior thereof forming a vent from said chamber without rendering the float and valve inoperative.

3. A regulating member for a refrigerant control unit, comprising an arm extending into a sealed float chamber and acting against means governing the action of a float controlled discharge valve to limit the action thereof, said arm having a screw top and having threads adjacent its externally extending portion and having a longitudinally cut-away thread surface whereby the arm may be adjusted to present a vent from said sealed float chamber to the exterior thereof without rendering the float and valve inoperative.

4. A refrigerant control unit comprising a chamber having an inlet, a lever pivoted within said chamber and carrying a float on one arm thereof and having a pin extending from said arm, a valve for discharging refrigerant from said chamber comprising a member having a bore extending into said chamber and having a seat disposed outside thereof and a substantially cylindrical needle plug fitting loosely within said bore and acting against said seat, the inwardly extending portion of said plug having an aperture to receive the pin extending from the said lever arm and forming an operating connection therewith, and means to limit the movement of said plug against said seat and for forming a vent from said chamber without rendering the float and valve inoperative comprising a rod extending into said chamber and manually adjustable from the exterior thereof against the other arm of said lever.

HARRY GOLDBERG. 

